Japan's Fumio Kishida quits as Kochikai faction leader amid scandal
3 Min Read
Ahead of Kishida's step-down, LDP factions were being condemned for allegedly underreporting income in reports for political funding.
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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sits during a plenary session at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP)
The Kochikai faction of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan has witnessed today the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as its leader amid a scandal entailing years of hiding income and expenditure from ticket sales for fundraising events.
As quoted by a Japanese broadcaster on Thursday, Kishida said, "I want to take the initiative and work hard to restore trust in the party's politics. So this is why I have made the decision to leave the faction during my term as Prime Minister and LDP President".
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to step down as chief of his faction in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party amid a political funds scandal, a source close to him said Thursday. https://t.co/AeuhGa0ONM
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) December 7, 2023
On the other hand, as cited by a broadcast from the Japanese parliament, the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan urged for the resignation of Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura for being involved in the scandal as well.
Read more: In major cabinet reshuffle, Japan replaces foreign, defense ministers
During a lower house session, Kishida stated, "Detailed answers can damage the investigation. It is necessary to refrain from making any statements. The chief cabinet secretary performs different duties".
He added: "As for the questions you have asked, it is necessary to refrain from answering, but otherwise I want him to continue to fulfill his duties".
Scandalous times
Ahead of his step-down, LDP factions were condemned for allegedly underreporting income in reports for political funding and Kishida called on party members to refrain from hosting fundraising events for a while.
The Tokyo prosecutor's office is at the moment investigating the funds concealed and received by five factions of the ruling party from fundraising events, for which the tickets are often bought by Japanese businesses.
If the amount raised in one evening surpasses 200,000 yen ($1,300), then by law, the names of the donors and the amounts raised are required to be noted in the account book.
This is not Kishida's only scandal.
Kishida's son steps down
Kishida's eldest son stepped down as his father's executive policy secretary back in May amid a public outcry over his use of the leader's official residence for a private party.
The Shukan Bunshun weekly published photos of his son Shotaro and about 10 relatives posing or lying on the symbolically important red-carpeted stairs of the residence, in an imitation of group photos of the newly appointed cabinets.
《翔太郎秘書官が辞職》
— 週刊文春 (@shukan_bunshun) May 29, 2023
きっかけとなった「週刊文春」の記事はこちら。
岸田一族「首相公邸」大ハシャギ写真 階段に寝そべり、総理会見ごっこ #週刊文春 https://t.co/BegerTCkcN
Moreover, the chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, had earlier described the event as "inappropriate" and promised to ensure the residence would not be used improperly again.
